Friday 1st March in The Sunflower, Union Street, Belfast. The songs of Johnny Mercer with Carmel McCreagh, Fiachra Trench, Joe Csibi and Steve Hogan and the Belfast launch of Carmel’s new album of Mercer’s songs.

Friday 5th April in The Sunflower, Belfast. Jazz standards with Honor Heffernan and Jim Doherty.

Friday 3rd May in The Sunflower. Jazz with Louis Stewart and Neil Loghlen.

The Sunflower is a new bar on the corner of Union Street and Kent Street in Belfast. It’s just off Royal Avenue behind the Central Library. We’re hosting a jazz gig there on the first Friday of every month. So far I’ve played with Carmel McCreagh, Fiachra Trench on keys, Joe Csibi on bass, Steve Hogan on drums, Honor Heffernan and Jim Doherty on piano. On 3rd May Louis Stewart and Neil Loghlen on bass join me.

Friday and Saturday 27th and 28th July at The Village, County Kildare. Father and daughter: six sets with Alex Donald on decks and me on soprano sax.

Wednesday 22nd August. Clarinet and stories: solo gig for the Moyle Group of Amnesty International in Thyme & Co, Ballycastle in the Glens of Antrim. Doors at 7.30, booking advisable at venue.

Saturday 25th August. Playing clarinet and baritone sax with Carmel McCreagh and Fiachra Trench at festival in Jollylands Farm, Kilternan, Dublin 18 in aid of Focus Ireland and Multiple System Atrophy Trust. No tickets at gate; book at www.jollylands.com/jazz

Friday 21st September. Again with Carmel and Fiachra at the Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray as part of Culture Night. Booking at www.mermaidartscentre.ie

I’ve long regarded people who play and write music as my extended family. When I bump into them in a recording studio or at a gig anywhere on the island or at a festival abroad, it’s like meeting cousins that you’re glad to see. I like being in a position where I can help and thus I worked for the Arts Council 1988-92, I set up MusicBase 1992-97 which offered information and advice, I sat on the Boards of FORTE, the IRMA Trust, the IBEC music group and the Federation of Musicians. Currently I’m on the Boards of the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society of Ireland and IMRO. I am honoured to chair the IMRO Board. IMRO does great work on behalf of its 7,300 Irish members and its affiliates abroad and is an essential support for the creativity of songwriters, composers, lyricists and the music publishers who manage their work. You can find out more at www.imro.ie